Job Interview

So these event dresses have been fun and all, but I’m hitting the pause button on all that fancy frockery for a couple days lest we forget we still have to… you know, go to work during the holiday season. For anyone who’s on the hunt, styling yourself for interviews can be a job in itself—but it doesn’t have to be. There are simple style tenets you can rely on when you need to put your best professional foot forward.

Whether you recently graduated from college or are an industry veteran looking to make a career move, you always want to make sure your arsenal of interview attire is in tip-top shape. While you’ll no doubt dazzle your interviewers with your brilliant responses to their inventive questions, appearing polished and professional is a super important piece of the puzzle. It conveys competence, self-awareness and respect for your prospective employer. Remember, these people don’t know you yet, so be conscious of all of the verbal and non-verbal cues you’re putting out there.

REISS

REISS

Today’s look is geared towards more formal office environments but as discussed at length here, interview attire can vary widely across industries. But while it’s important to do your homework on company culture in determining appropriate attire for the new position, there are a few general guidelines that universally apply. Let’s get into them, shall we?

As a general rule, no matter what industry or position, keep your interview look sleek and simple. If you’re not auditioning for Cirque du Soleil, you want to keep things polished and effortless. Once you land the position, you’ll have the chance to evaluate your new work environment and adapt accordingly. Interview day, however, is typically not the day to “get super creative” and show your prospective employer your “quirky” personality by wearing that sequined bomber jacket that you DIY’ed or the spikey leather choker that looks like something out of a medieval torture chamber. Nothing ends an interview faster than looking like you belong at an S&M convention. Unless, of course, you’re interviewing for a job at an S&M convention. In that case, you do you.

If you’re not sure what is appropriate to wear to the interview (A suit? Maybe nice jeans?), read all of my sneaky pro tips here for determining what’s acceptable at a prospective new employer. It’s not as hard as you think, promise. But when it comes to interviews, you should always err on the more formal side. It’s better to be a tad overdressed, showing a high level of respect for the company and a seriousness about landing the job, than being underdressed and inappropriate.

Regardless of the level of formality, here are four industry-agnostic interview style rules to always keep in mind:

1 // Invest in a well-fitting, tailored ensemble.

Make sure nothing is too low-cut or too short, and try on a few sizes to make sure nothing fits too snuggly for a professional setting. When in doubt, always err on the loose side rather than the tight side, but don’t overcorrect. Clothing that’s too baggy can make you look sloppy. If you’re still struggling, purchase clothing one size up and take it to a tailor. Wearing ill-fitting clothing not only takes a toll on your confidence, but it also distracts the interviewer from focusing on all of the mind-blowingly brilliant things you have to say.

REISS

STUART WEITZMAN

2 // Keep shoes polished, practical and classic.

Whether you go with flats or heels, make sure they’re sleek and polished—nothing super dull, worn, or scratched up. Also, keep things classic and if you’re wearing heels, shoot for three to four inches maximum. The shoes I’m wearing today are four inches and likely not appropriate for the most conservative office environments where three inches is typically the maximum when it comes to interview etiquette. It’s a bit different for everyone. Again, refer to this post for determining what level of formality is appropriate.

Whatever footwear you choose, MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE you can comfortably walk and stand in them for more than 10 minutes. If your interviewer is forced to evaluate whether you’re either drunk or just wearing outrageously impractical footwear, they’re probs going to move on to the next applicant.

STUART WEITZMAN

DOLCE & GABBANA

3 // Go for minimal, fuss-free hair, nails and makeup.

Step awayyy from the jewel-encrusted falsies, my friends. When it comes to interviews, less is more. Regardless of hair length, you want to appear well-groomed and put-together, without anything falling constantly in your face. For your nails, either go with clean nails or a classic nail polish like reds or neutrals. As for makeup, shoot for a polished, minimal look. Today is not the day to go ham on your new metallic Kylie Lip Kit. This is just not the venue. Lastly, be sure to avoid strong perfume. Personally, I’d advise going without any perfume (but obviously still wearing deodorant, duh).

ESTEE LAUDER

4 // Keep accessories simple.

Again, nothing too trendy or distracting when it comes to jewelry. Keep it delicate and relatively classic. You want to exude confidence, but also convey the message that you spent more time researching the position and preparing for the interview than you did on picking out your bedazzled rainbow hoops.

KATE SPADE

Okay, now that we’ve gotten through that, let’s chat for a minute about what I’m wearing today: Embodying these interview style tips is an absolute unicorn of a dress, this Ruth Button Detail V Neck Dress by Reiss which is always a treasure trove of classic pieces, perfect for in or out of the office.

Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I was this in love with gray. The slight blouson bodice and button detailing at the shoulder contrast flawlessly with the more tailored pencil-skirt bottom. It’s one of those comfortable yet powerful dresses that you can feel confident investing in. I mean, I want to hire this dress and I don’t even know what she’s good at yet.

A note on hosiery: I wore this recently when it was still in the 60s in NYC (gotta love that unpredictable November weather!) so I was able to comfortably go with bare legs. As temperatures start to drop, have no fear. Snag a pair of these gorgeous sheer tights in color “smoke” and you’ll look crazy chic, while also keeping your legs warm. While I don’t love flesh-colored nude hosiery (despite the fact that Kate Middleton always looks FAB in it), I’m a huge fan of sheer blacks, greys, browns and navys when it comes to tights.

REISS

8 thoughts on “Job Interview”

Thank you so much for this post. I love your writing style and your wit.

Regarding jewelry, I am often not sure what is still appropriate. Especially with more expensive things like a Rolex watch and Bulgari rings. I work in a field, where relatively high salaries are normal. Yet I am still at the beginning of my career and don’t want to be too flashy. What are your thoughts on that?

Thank you so much too, and yes… I agree, I don’t think it’s a great idea, especially in the very early stages of your career, to be super flashy. Always best to be understated to let your skills and personality shine while you’re establishing your professional reputation.

Great post (and dress), as always 🙂 What are your thoughts on color choice? I have an interview coming up and actually already own the J.Crew crepe wrap dress you included in your post in 3 colors (what can I say, flattering silhouettes and classic lines for plus size ladies such as myself are hard to find). I have a pale icy blue, the forest green, and festive red–the red is the showstopper without question, but I’m wondering if I should opt for the green or blue in the name of appropriateness.

I work in a corporate setting that allows for business casual, but I often wear dresses on the more tailored/formal end and heels (always). What are your thoughts?

I would definitely suggest the icy blue or forest green. To me, the forest green sounds like the best seasonal choice! Icy blue can feel too spring-y. The red sounds best kept for holidays soirees and indeed might be too flashy for the interview.

It’s a beautiful dress. That being said looking at the website pictures, it appears to have an open back (no zipper in the back?) so probably a bit tricky wearing it to the interviews…

I would also say that the office rules vary city by city (west coast more relaxed all equal) and country by country within the same industry. What can be deemed as appropriate in New York, wouldn’t work in Abu Dhabi:) so best to do research beforehand

Love the dress. However, I love Reiss dresses especially after seeing many of these dresses on my favorite tv shows such as Madame Secretary. However, my only problem with Reiss is the button loops. I’ve found that a lot of their outfits seem to have at minimum 2 button loops that tend to be super tiny and refuse to go on the button. Unfortunately, if it takes me over 20 minutes to put on an outfit, I’m not going to buy that outfit. Have you encountered this issue and how did you deal with it?